Kiwanis International

Russian entrepreneur telling about new Kiwanis Club in St. Petersburg

Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service and community minded individuals who support children and young adults around the world. There are more than 8,200 Kiwanis clubs with nearly 300,000 members in more than 80 countries.

An increasing number of Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) delegations are sponsored by Kiwanis Clubs throughout the U.S. Several Kiwanians serve as Volunteer Area Coordinators for PEP. They work closely with CCI Program Officers to introduce PEP to Kiwanis Clubs and encourage them to host delegations of Russian entrepreneurs in their communities.

Kiwanis International has six permanent objectives, which have remained unchanged since they were adopted in 1924:

• To give value to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.

• To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

• To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business and professional standards.

• To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship.

• To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities.

• To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism, which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.

The motto for Kiwanis is "We Build" and the number one service project is "Young Children: Priority One" which focuses on the special needs of children from prenatal development to age 5.

In 1994 Kiwanis adopted a Worldwide Service Project to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder as the leading cause of preventable mental and physical retardation in the world.

Club meetings traditionally are conducted once a week and feature guests speakers and an opportunity for learning and fellowship. In addition to attending meetings, the typical Kiwanian volunteers each month to assist with club service projects.

For more information about Kiwanis International, visit the website at www.kiwanis.org.